Vivienne Sterling had been keeping Cyrus Wilde for three years. Everyone in their circle said Miss Sterling had lost her mind. With so many eligible bachelors from prominent families available, she insisted on spoiling a race car driver who had nothing but a pretty face and a wild temper. Vivienne didn't care. All she wanted was the red mole at the corner of Cyrus's eye, exactly like Sebastian's. Until news came that Sebastian, thought dead, had returned alive. That very evening at a charity gala, Cyrus stood with his arm around his childhood friend Meadow, bragging to others. "Vivienne can't live without me. I just crook my finger and she comes running." The next second, the doors swung open. The man missing for three years walked in, cold and intense, his gaze sharp as a blade. In front of everyone, Vivienne kicked aside Cyrus who blocked her path, eyes reddening as she rushed into that man's embrace. Cyrus lost it, dropping to his knees and clutching at her dress. "Vivienne,look at me. I have a mole too..." Vivienne looked down at him with the same gaze one might give garbage. "A fake is a fake. Now that the moon has returned, who needs a firefly?"
When Cyrus tore up that ten-million-dollar check and threw it in my face, I was checking my watch. 2 AM. My birthday was over. "Vivienne, who the hell are you trying to humiliate with money?" Cyrus stood there shirtless, wine stains still wet on his chest, his handsome, hostile face full of aggression. "I was with Meadow at the hospital today! She's afraid of the dark, and she had acute gastritis. What's wrong with me staying with her as her brother for one night? Was that worth throwing money at me?" I calmly wiped the paper scraps from my face, my gaze settling on the dark red teardrop mole at the corner of his eye. So similar. Sebastian Ashford had a mole just like that too. Except when Sebastian looked at me, that mole reflected gentle ripples. Whereas Cyrus's only showed greed and impatience. "I told you to come back and spend my birthday with me. Did you forget the rules?" I leaned back on the sofa, my voice light but carrying an unquestionable coldness. When I'd first kept Cyrus, the rules were clear: First, come whenever called. Second, play the role of Sebastian's shadow well. Third, no emotional attachment allowed, especially not to that barely-related sister of his, Meadow. Cyrus let out a cold laugh and kicked over the coffee table in front of him. The cake I'd made myself was now a pile of ruined mess. "Fuck your rules! Vivienne, you think having some dirty money makes you so great? Let me tell you, Meadow is priceless to me! What would a cold-blooded capitalist like you know about feelings?" He bent down, bringing that face close to mine with vindictive pleasure. "Besides, don't you love this face of mine? Even if I leave now, you'll still obediently buy me that Ferrari and send it over. Vivienne, you're just a pathetic woman who can't survive without a man." With that, he grabbed his jacket and stormed out. As he left, I heard him sending Meadow a voice message, his tone instantly turning sickeningly sweet. "Don't be scared, Meadow. Cyrus is coming right back. That crazy bitch can't control me." The room fell silent again. I stared at the wreckage, my stomach cramping. Three years. To hold onto this last shred of memory of Sebastian, I'd fed this stray dog Cyrus until he became a wolf. Not only had I filled his stomach, I'd emboldened him. My phone vibrated. A message from my special assistant: "Miss Sterling, there's movement from the Ashford family. The three-year lockdown... seems to be loosening." My hand trembled violently, my heartbeat skipping. Sebastian, is it you?
Cyrus didn't return for half a month. He was betting I'd show up with a black card and a luxury car, just like before. After all, every time before, I couldn't bear to see that face disappointed. A face so much like Sebastian's. So I'd compromise. No limits. But he miscalculated this time. I had no time for him. News from the Ashford family was becoming increasingly definite. Someone had spotted a figure resembling Sebastian at a private sanatorium abroad. I mobilized all of the Sterling family's underground networks to investigate, staying up entire nights monitoring for updates. Right at this critical juncture, the Sterling family faced a crisis. My grandfather, who had doted on me most, suffered a sudden cerebral hemorrhage and was rushed into the ICU. The doctor issued a critical condition notice, telling me to prepare myself mentally. That day, thunder and lightning crashed. I stood outside the emergency room, my entire body ice cold. Before losing consciousness, Grandfather kept calling out. "Viv... find someone... to take care of you..." I knew Grandfather feared I would be alone. I wanted to put his mind at ease. Even if it was fake, I needed to let him see, to tell him I had someone. I dialed Cyrus's number. First attempt, rejected. Second attempt, rejected again. Third attempt, finally answered. Deafening engine roars and cheers came through the receiver. Cyrus was at the racetrack. "Make it quick, I'm busy." His voice was arrogant and cocky. "Cyrus, come to First Memorial Hospital." I tried desperately to keep my voice from shaking. "Grandfather's critical. He wants to see you. Just come now, and I'll buy you that limited edition supercar you wanted." Silence on the other end for a second, then Meadow's shrill scream erupted. "Ah! Cyrus! I want to try that drift! Take me, please!" Cyrus clicked his tongue, then said impatiently, "Vivienne, you're really going all out to trick me back, aren't you? Even lying about the old man dying? Ever heard of the boy who cried wolf?" "Meadow's in a bad mood today. I need to take her for a drive to cheer her up. Go play the dutiful granddaughter yourself. Don't bother me." The call disconnected. In that instant, my knuckles turned white gripping the phone. I never imagined a person could be this rotten. Half an hour later, the emergency room lights went out. The doctor pushed out a gurney covered with a white sheet and shook his head at me. I didn't cry. Tears seemed too superfluous in this moment. I simply quietly took out my phone and sent an order to the financial director. "Cancel all supplementary cards under Cyrus's name. Revoke his residential rights at the Westhill Villa. Now. Immediately."
Grandfather's funeral was grand. Everyone who was anyone in New York attended. Except Cyrus. Because his cards were canceled, he'd lost face in front of his friends and couldn't even buy Meadow a purse. He sent me hundreds of text messages, starting with curses, moving to accusations, then finally threats. I didn't respond to a single one. I blocked him directly. On the day of the funeral procession, Cyrus finally appeared. He'd probably climbed over the wall to get in, wearing a motorcycle jacket with the zipper half-open, his face full of hostility. What's more, Meadow followed behind him. At this solemn occasion where everyone wore black, Meadow had on a pale pink Chanel suit, innocent makeup, and was even holding a milk tea. The guests immediately erupted in outrage. "Who is that? How rude!" "Isn't that the boy toy Miss Sterling keeps? How dare he bring a girl in pink to a funeral?" Cyrus ignored it all. He strode directly to me and grabbed my wrist, his eyes bloodshot. "Vivienne, have you had enough? Is canceling my cards fun for you? Let me tell you, Meadow was terrified. You apologize to her right now, and give her that Westhill villa as compensation for emotional distress. Then I'll forgive you this time!" I slowly raised my head, looking at that face. Once, looking at Sebastian through this face gave me momentary comfort. Now, I only felt disgusted. Like I'd swallowed ten thousand flies. "Take your filthy hands off me." My voice was hoarse but cold as ice. Cyrus froze, seemingly unable to believe I dared speak to him this way. Meadow immediately stepped forward, clinging to Cyrus's arm, looking at me with teary eyes. "Vivienne,don't be angry at Cyrus. It's all my fault... I wasn't feeling well, that's why Cyrus was so worried. And... and I didn't wear pink on purpose. I just thought Grandfather going to heaven should be a happy thing..." Slap! I backhanded her hard across the face. The slap was so loud the entire funeral hall fell silent. Meadow was stunned, milk tea spilling all over her, leaving her in a sorry state. "This is the Sterling family funeral hall, not your hookup nightclub." I accepted a wet wipe from a bodyguard and methodically wiped my fingers. Each word landed like a nail. "Wearing pink to a funeral. Is this your upbringing? Since your parents didn't teach you properly, I'll teach you in their place." "Vivienne! Are you insane?!" Cyrus flew into a rage, raising his fist to charge at me. "You dare hit her? You believe I'll..." Before he could get close, two bodyguards over six feet tall pressed him to his knees on the ground. His kneecaps hit the marble floor with a sickening crack. I looked down at Cyrus kneeling before me. "Cyrus, the game is over." "You're just a substitute, a plaything. When I favored you, you were a treasure. Now that I'm done with you, you're not even worth a stray dog." "Throw them both out. From now on, they show up on Sterling property once, we beat them once."
Cyrus and Meadow were dragged out of the funeral hall like dead dogs. I heard he cursed at the gate for half an hour, swearing to make me beg him to come back. After handling Grandfather's affairs, I swiftly cleaned house within the corporation. Those collateral relatives waiting to see me fail, I kicked them out one by one. The outside world buzzed with rumors. The Sterling family's crazy heiress was back. No longer a lovesick idiot. A week later came a top-tier business reception. The host was mysterious, supposedly a newly returned tycoon holding hundreds of billions in capital. I had to secure this partnership to stabilize Sterling Corporation's stock price. Unexpectedly, I ran into Cyrus again at the entrance. He'd apparently latched onto some nouveau riche sugar mama. Clutching an invitation from who knows where, he swaggered by the door looking smug. Seeing me, he immediately released the rich woman's hand, straightened his collar, and walked over. "Well, well, if it isn't Miss Sterling?" Cyrus blocked my path, his expression full of vindictive satisfaction. "What? You here begging for partnerships too? I heard this big shot has high standards. With Sterling Corporation's current state, you probably can't even get through the door, right?" He leaned close, lowering his voice with malicious temptation. "Vivienne,having regrets now? Just say 'I was wrong' in front of everyone, return that villa, and I'll put in a good word with my lady friend here. Let you get in and see what real class looks like." He thought I was still that Vivienne who gave him everything he asked for. Thought that with a simple crook of his finger and a small favor, I'd let bygones be bygones. After all, he still had that face. I looked at him and suddenly laughed. "Cyrus, did you forget to look in the mirror before leaving?" "That fawning, sleazy look on you. You really resemble a eunuch." Cyrus's face instantly turned iron blue. "Vivienne! Don't be shameless! When that big shot arrives, we'll see how you cry!" Just then, the banquet hall doors slowly opened. All the lights instantly converged, spotlights hitting the entrance. The previously noisy crowd fell silent, everyone spontaneously parting to create a path. "Is that... the legendary 'Moon God' of Wall Street?" "Oh my God, it's really him! The Ashford family heir who disappeared three years ago!" I jerked my head up. My heart stopped beating in that moment. That man approached against the light. Dressed in an impeccably tailored deep black suit, his posture upright as a pine. That face, coldly noble, had gained even more maturity and commanding presence than in my memories. He lifted his gaze slightly, his eyes piercing through layers of people, landing precisely on me. It was Sebastian. The real Sebastian. No hostility, no sleaziness, only a nobility that made people want to bow in submission.
I froze in place, as if my soul was frozen. Three years. Over a thousand days and nights of despair. All of it broke loose the moment I saw him appear safe and sound. Cyrus froze too. He stared blankly at Sebastian, then looked down at himself. An inferiority complex instantly engulfed him. Though their features were seventy percent similar, their temperaments were worlds apart. If Sebastian was a bright moon hanging high in the night sky, then Cyrus was a puddle of mud in the gutter. Sebastian walked straight toward me. Bodyguards on both sides cleared the way for him. The rich woman who'd been so arrogant moments ago now didn't dare breathe too loudly. Cyrus panicked. He felt an unprecedented sense of crisis. The bloodline suppression from the real thing. He instinctively tried to grab my hand to assert ownership. "Vivienne, who is he? He's just a bit paler than me, right? Don't let him fool you, I'm the one who..." "Get lost." Sebastian spoke. Just one word, not loud, but carrying bone-chilling killing intent. He didn't even spare Cyrus a proper glance, as if he were merely a patch of air. Cyrus staggered back two steps under the force of that aura, his legs weakening until he sat down hard on the ground. The next second, Sebastian stood before me. He reached out, his slender fingers gently touching my cheek, his fingertips warm. Those eyes that usually looked at everyone coldly were now frighteningly red. "Vivienne." He called my full name, his voice hoarse as if scraped over sandpaper. "I'm sorry. I came back too late." My tears instantly splashed onto his palm. All my strength, all my pretense, all the dignity of the Sterling family head. It all crumbled in this moment. I couldn't care about propriety anymore. I threw myself into his arms, hands desperately clutching his lapels, crying like a child who'd been lost. "Sebastian... you bastard... you were dead for three years... why did you only come back now..." He held me tightly back, with a force as if trying to meld me into his bones and blood. "I'm the bastard. From now on, my life is yours. I'll never leave again." A deathly silence surrounded us. No one expected the cold, aloof Miss Sterling to cry like this. Even less did they expect the legendarily ruthless new Ashford family head to publicly comfort someone. Cyrus sat on the ground, ashen-faced. He watched the woman Sebastian carefully protected in his embrace, watched the undisguised devotion in that man's eyes. He finally understood a truth. These three years, the so-called "favoritism" he'd been so proud of was nothing but Vivienne looking at another man's shadow through him. "Impossible... this can't be..." Cyrus scrambled up unwillingly, pointing at Sebastian and shouting. "Vivienne! Look at me! I have a mole too! Right here at my eye! You said you loved this mole most!" He frantically pointed at his eye corner like a madman trying to prove his worth. Sebastian finally deigned to spare him a glance. With one arm around me, he swept his indifferent gaze over Cyrus's face, his lips curving into a cruel arc. "Oh? A mole?" "You had that tattooed on to look like me, didn't you?" "Poorly imitating your betters. Truly... disgustingly ugly."
"Tat... tattooed?" Cyrus looked like he'd been struck by lightning, covering his eye corner, his voice shaking uncontrollably. Sebastian took a handkerchief from his assistant with distaste, methodically wiping the finger that had just touched Cyrus's chin. As if it had been contaminated by some lethal bacteria. "You didn't know?" Sebastian's tone was casual but every word hit home. "This mole of mine. When I was five, I got scratched by a tree branch while saving Viv. The scar later became a mole." "It's a badge of honor." He tossed the handkerchief into a nearby trash can. "Whereas that one on your face reeks of crude industrial saccharine." The crowd erupted. So Miss Sterling hadn't loved the mole. She'd loved that history of childhood sweethearts, of life-saving devotion. Cyrus had become a complete joke. His proud "substitute credentials" had transformed into a farcical imitation in this moment. "No... I don't believe it! Vivienne,say something!" Cyrus tried to lunge forward, but security kicked him in the back of the knee, forcing him to his knees again. He looked up at me, his eyes full of panic and pleading. "Vivienne,it's me, Cyrus. We've been together three years. Even without merit, I've worked hard. You can't be this heartless..." I nestled in Sebastian's embrace, feeling only infinite exhaustion. Looking at that man sobbing on the ground, I wondered if I'd been blind the past three years. "Cyrus." I spoke, my voice soft. "These three years, every cent you spent came from the returns on what Sebastian left me." "The cars you drove. He ordered them before he died. The villa you lived in. He designed it. Even your existence only had value because you resembled him." "Now the real deal is back. Don't you find it disgusting? You fake, spending the real deal's money and trampling all over him?" "Throw him out." Sebastian didn't want to hear another word. Holding my waist, he turned. "Don't dirty her eyes." Security dragged Cyrus and the now-terrified rich woman out like dead dogs. Before the doors closed, Cyrus's heart-wrenching shouts could still be heard. "Vivienne! You'll regret this! That man disappeared for three years. Who knows what he did out there! Only I truly cared about you!" The doors slammed shut. The world grew quiet.
Sebastian took me back to his private estate in the suburbs. In the car, the atmosphere was eerily quiet. I gripped his sleeve tightly, not daring to let go for even a moment, afraid this was just a dream and I'd wake to find him transformed back into that cold tombstone. "Why are your hands so cold?" Sebastian grasped my hand, his brow furrowed. He tucked my hand into his coat pocket, warmth flowing continuously from his palm. "I'm sorry, Viv. The plane crashed then, and I fell into international waters. A passing fishing boat rescued me, but I suffered brain trauma and was in a coma for two full years." "After waking, I was in rehabilitation, fighting to regain control of the Ashford family. I didn't dare contact you, afraid those who wanted me dead would target you." His explanation was brief, but I could hear the bloodshed and violence behind it. Two years in a coma, one year in rehabilitation, and still having to fight his way back to the center of power in a foreign land. I didn't dare imagine how much he'd suffered. "What about now..." I choked up, reaching to touch his legs. "I'm fine now." Sebastian caught my hand, kissing it at his lips. "To come back and hold you, I made sure my legs recovered completely. See, I can hold you very steadily now." The car stopped at the estate entrance. He didn't let me get out. Instead, he scooped me up horizontally and strode into the house. The lights came on, and I realized the interior furnishings were exactly as I remembered. Even my hair tie from three years ago still sat on the coffee table. "This place has been maintained. Nothing's changed." Sebastian set me on the sofa, then knelt on one knee. This man who could overturn industries with a flick of his hand now knelt before me, removing my uncomfortable high heels. He cradled my foot, looking at the blisters rubbed raw on my heels, his expression dangerously dark. "That waste Cyrus never even bought you proper shoes?" I sniffled. "He only knew how to use my card to buy things for himself and Meadow." Sebastian's movements paused. Then he produced a black velvet box, opening it to reveal a blinding pink diamond ring and a heavy private seal. "This is the Ashford family head's private seal. Seeing this seal is like seeing me in person. It can mobilize all Ashford family funds and influence." He pressed the seal into my hand and slipped the ring onto my ring finger. "Vivienne,from now on you manage my money, you manage my life. Whoever wrongs you, I'll send to hell." Looking at that ring, I remembered Cyrus once gave me a plastic hair clip bought from a street stall, insisting I wear it to a gala, saying this was "true love doesn't look at price." It turned out, love versus no love really was that obvious.
After being thrown out of the reception, Cyrus didn't give up. He took Meadow back to the Westhill Villa. That was Sterling family property, and his and Meadow's nest these past three years. He wanted to grab some of the watches and antiques I'd given him to sell for cash to make a comeback. However, when he entered the password, the door lock emitted a harsh alarm: "Incorrect password." He refused to believe it and tried again. "Incorrect password. System locked." "Impossible! That woman Vivienne actually changed the password?!" Cyrus flew into a rage, kicking the door. Just then, the door opened from inside. Several uniformed movers emerged carrying huge black garbage bags. "What are you doing! This is my house!" Cyrus rushed forward to grab them. The head butler coldly pushed him away. "Mr. Wilde, Miss Sterling has given orders. This property has been reclaimed. As for what's inside..." The butler gestured at the garbage bags on the ground. "Miss Sterling said since the person is no longer wanted, the trash that person left should also be cleaned out. These are your personal belongings. Please take them." Cyrus tore open a garbage bag with trembling hands. Inside were clothes he'd worn, toothbrushes he'd used, and Meadow's pile of cheap pink stuffed animals. But all the valuable watches, paintings, limited edition collectibles, all gone. "Where are my watches! Where are my car keys!" Cyrus shouted like a madman. The butler remained expressionless. "Those were all assets purchased by Miss Sterling, belonging to Sterling Corporation, not to you. You only had usage rights, not ownership." "Additionally, Miss Sterling asked me to inform you that the thirteen million and fifty thousand dollars you charged over these three years. The lawyer's letter is on its way. Please prepare for repayment." "Thirteen... million?" Meadow nearly fainted hearing this, screaming, "Cyrus! Didn't you say that money was what you earned? Didn't you say the Sterling family was just your ATM? We have to pay it back? We'll go to prison!" Hit in his sore spot, Cyrus turned and backhanded Meadow across the face. "Shut up! If you hadn't demanded to buy this and that every day, would I have spent so much? Having second thoughts now? Get lost!" Meadow clutched her face crying but didn't dare leave. Because she was also a parasite. Without Cyrus, she didn't even know where she'd sleep tonight. The rain fell harder. Cyrus and Meadow crouched by the villa entrance clutching garbage bags, like two homeless dogs. And in the distance, the Sterling family's brilliant lights would never shine on them again.
People in desperate straits often become even more shameless. Cyrus had reached the end of his rope. He could neither repay that thirteen million debt nor accept the fall from cloud nine to mud. At Meadow's instigation, he decided to go all in. The next morning, a video titled "Heiress CEO Abandons Three-Year Lover, Turns Around to Grovel Before Returning Tycoon" shot to number one on trending. In the video, Cyrus appeared unshaven, red-eyed, haggard, tearfully complaining to the camera. "Vivienne and I were together three years. I gave her my whole heart. The day her grandfather was dying, I got injured at the racetrack and didn't see the call. She's held it against me ever since. Now that Sebastian's back, she kicked me out to climb the social ladder and stuck me with over thirteen million in debt... I really don't know how to keep living." Meadow appeared on cue beside him, crying pitifully, even holding a forged "abortion medical record." "Viv never liked me. She thought I was Cyrus's burden. A while ago I accidentally got pregnant. When Viv found out, she forced Cyrus to take me for an abortion. That was a little life..." This victim act was devastatingly precise. "Abandoning old love," "clinging to power," "forced abortion." Every keyword struck the public's sensitive nerves. Public opinion exploded instantly. Uninformed netizens flooded Sterling Corporation's official account and my personal profile with abuse. "Vivienne Sterling get out of New York! How can such a heartless woman be CEO?" "Trading her fiancé for money. Absolutely disgusting!" "So sad. Three years of her life wasted on a man, and now he's the one paying the price. Too tragic!" "That Sebastian guy isn't any better, right? Taking someone else's leftovers?" Sterling Corporation's stock price hit the daily limit down at opening. The board couldn't sit still, calling to demand answers. Some even proposed removing me as CEO. I sat in my office watching Cyrus's supremely hypocritical face on the big screen. I found it laughable. Did he think public opinion could destroy me? Too bad he forgot. These three years, I'd kept the Sterling family head position not through mercy. "Miss Sterling, PR has prepared a clarification statement. Should we release it?" My special assistant looked anxious. I shook my head, fingers lightly tapping the desk. "No rush. Let it play out a bit longer. The heat isn't high enough yet. Not enough to finish him off completely." "What about Mr. Ashford's side?" The assistant checked her phone, expression somewhat odd. "Mr. Ashford said... this small matter doesn't require your concern. He's already sent people to 'invite' those two big stars."
That evening, Cyrus sat in a shabby motel room scrolling through comments on his phone, gloating. "Meadow look! So many people support us! People are even tipping me! I've made tens of thousands just now!" Meadow nestled in his arms, her eyes gleaming with greed. "Cyrus is amazing! When that bitch Vivienne can't take the pressure and comes begging for peace, we'll demand a hundred million from her!" Bang! The motel's flimsy wooden door kicked open. Several black-suited bodyguards filed in and without a word, pinned down the couple still dreaming of riches. "What are you doing! I'm calling the police! I'm an influencer! I have millions of followers!" Cyrus struggled desperately. His phone clattered to the floor, still on the livestream interface. Viewers in the livestream only saw the camera shake violently, then a pair of polished black leather shoes appeared in frame. Sebastian slowly entered. He toyed with a USB drive in his hand, his gaze looking at them like livestock awaiting slaughter. "I hear you've been having fun making up stories online?" His voice wasn't loud but carried bone-deep coldness. A bodyguard brought in a chair. Sebastian sat down elegantly, crossing his long legs, his presence instantly crushing the cramped little room. "You... you're Sebastian?" Cyrus swallowed hard, blustering. "What? Guilty conscience? Want to silence me? Let me tell you, the livestream's still running! Millions watching! You dare touch me, just try!" Sebastian glanced at the phone on the floor, his lips curving in a mocking smile. "Livestream? Perfect." He snapped his fingers. The assistant behind him immediately produced a projector, aiming it at the yellowed wall. "Since everyone's watching, let's all appreciate Mr. Wilde's 'devoted' moments over these three years." Sebastian pressed play. The screen began flickering.The first video was surveillance footage from a bar the night Grandfather was in critical condition. Cyrus had his arms around Meadow, writhing wildly on the dance floor, spraying champagne, shouting, "The old bastard's finally croaking! Vivienne will be all alone after this, she'll have to depend on me!" Cheers erupted around him. Where was any sign of an "injured leg"? The livestream went silent for a second, then the comments exploded. "Holy shit! This is what he called being injured at the racetrack? He was clubbing!" "This is so disgusting. Cursing someone's grandfather?" "And that girl! Didn't she say she was pregnant and weak then? She's dancing harder than anyone!" The second video was dashcam footage. Cyrus drove my Ferrari with Meadow in the passenger seat. Meadow touched her stomach. "Cyrus, my belly... are we really saying Vivienne forced me to abort? I'm not even pregnant. That medical report was fake..." Cyrus smoked carelessly. "What's there to be afraid of? As long as we cry pathetically enough online, those idiot netizens will believe us. Then we'll extort Vivienne for money and go live it up abroad." After this video, the livestream completely erupted. Those netizens who'd been feeling sorry for Cyrus now felt their intelligence had been insulted, their anger instantly maxing out. "Scammer! It was all an act!" "That woman is so vicious! Making up lies like that?" "I actually tipped this scumbag? Refund!" "Miss Sterling is so pitiful, being entangled with these parasites..." Watching the images on the wall, Cyrus turned deathly pale, trembling all over. "No... this isn't real... it's CGI! It's deepfake!" he screamed hysterically at the phone. Sebastian stood, crushing the phone on the floor with his foot, cutting off the livestream. But he didn't let the bodyguards release their grip. He walked to Cyrus, bent down, his deep eyes full of violence. "Cyrus, I was going to let you live, let you get lost from New York and be done with it." "But you absolutely should not have used Viv's reputation as fodder." "The person I treasure so much I can't bear to say a harsh word to. You think you can throw dirt on her?" Sebastian patted Cyrus's already terrified face, his voice gentle as if telling a bedtime story. "Defamation, slander, fraud, extortion... these charges combined are enough for you to operate a sewing machine in prison for life." "Oh, and there's that thirteen million and fifty thousand in debt." "I'll have the best legal team play with you. Even if you die in prison, I'll squeeze this debt out of your bone fragments." Finished speaking, he straightened up, wiping his hands with a wet wipe in disgust. "Take them away. Send them to the police station, hand them to Chief Wang. Tell him... they're a welcome-back gift from Sebastian." By the time Cyrus and Meadow were dragged away, they didn't even have the strength left to beg for mercy. They knew this time, it was truly over. Provoking Vivienne might have left a thread of survival, but provoking Sebastian meant provoking the Grim Reaper himself. That evening, Sterling Corporation's official account posted just one sentence: "The real deal returns, the clowns scatter. @Ashford Corporation Welcome home, Mr. Ashford." The accompanying image showed Sebastian putting the ring on my finger in the car, our hands interlocked with fingers intertwined, the pink diamond on my ring finger sparkling brilliantly in the night. The internet exploded. Not just because of this shocking reversal, but because Sebastian's newly registered account instantly replied: "My moon, finally in my embrace."
The morning after the storm of public opinion subsided, I woke to kisses. Opening my eyes, Sebastian propped his head up watching me, his other hand playing with my long hair spread across the pillow. Sunlight filtered through the curtains onto his coldly noble face, gilding him with a soft golden edge. He didn't look like the Grim Reaper who'd been so ruthlessly decisive in the livestream, but more like a male demon. "Awake?" His voice carried the huskiness of early morning as he lowered his head to kiss my forehead. I instinctively burrowed into his embrace. Even after a whole night, this real warmth still didn't feel like enough. "About Cyrus..." I'd just started. Sebastian's expression visibly darkened, and he bit my lip corner in punishment. "First thing in the morning, why mention that unlucky thing? Trying to make me not want to get out of bed?" My face heated. I pushed him. "I'm worried there'll be follow-up trouble. After all..." "No trouble." Sebastian cut off my words, his gaze deepening. "Vivienne,you need to get used to something. As long as I'm here, even if the sky falls, I'll hold it up. You just need to be the Sterling family's young miss, to be my Mrs. Ashford." He got up, revealing his muscular upper body. On his back was a vicious old scar from washing ashore three years ago. My fingertips trembled as I touched it. Sebastian grabbed my hand, pressing it to his heart. "Don't touch it. It's ugly." "It's not ugly." My eyes stung. "This is the roadmap you left to come back and see me." During breakfast, the assistant called, her tone hesitant. "Miss Sterling, those old foxes on the board... they're making trouble at the company." "They say that although this public opinion storm was clarified, Sterling Corporation's stock volatility affected their dividends. They're proposing... to convene an emergency shareholders' meeting to re-elect the chairman." I let out a cold laugh, setting down my milk glass. These wily board members had been restless even when Grandfather was alive. Now they saw me caught up in a scandal and thought I was an easy target. They wanted to take advantage and stage a coup. "Prepare the car." I stood, cold light flashing in my eyes. Sebastian methodically wiped his mouth, casually picking up his suit jacket and draping it over my shoulders. "Perfect timing. I'll go with you. Some accounts need settling not just with Cyrus, but with these disrespectful old geezers too."
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